Firing line

Monday, 24 December 2012

Just a short note to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I would also like to thank those individuals who have purchased and supported Crann Tara through its difficult first year, the problems faced by Richard have resulted in a much delayed release schedule but as I've said before family comes first and toy soldiers some way below.

At some point in 2013 I know we will see more releases and I would be a very happy man indeed if I can get the next planned release and the Government Foot out anything above that will be a bonus, but lets see, my commitment to the project is undiminished.

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Just a short update to let people know Richard contacted me to say he has started the sculpts. No timeline on this as he still faces domestic issues but he feels he is now in a position to start, which is good.
Will keep you posted as to progress.

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

I suppose the title is a bit of a misnomer actually as Richard has contacted me to explain that domestically things have got worse, his mother in law has been taken back into hospital and Richard has to do an awful lot for his mother who suffers from dementia.
As a result his sculpting at the moment has effectively ground to a halt and rather than keep feeding potential delivery dates he has just had to say he will start as soon as he can. But that my sculpts are the next set.
Whilst this is frustrating for me and for you I have told Richard that family always comes first and that at the end of the day this is a hobby! I know he will deliver eventually I just ask that you are patient until some light appears at the end of the tunnel.
As and when I receive news I will update.
In the meantime it just means you will have to get those Highlanders painted!!

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Richard contacted me yesterday to say that due to a serious illness in the family he's around 4 weeks behind on the scultpting front, as in all these things I've told him families come first and the figures will be ready when they're ready.
Richard sounds quite positive at getting them to me as soon as possible and I reckon it will most probably be the back end of October before the next sets are available,(gives a bit more time to save up!).
It does mean that if this follows through with my colleagues Frank and Jim then the Government troops wont be available until the New Year, although I can say they will be worth waiting for....

Sunday, 26 August 2012

Well in anticipation of the next sets of new figures I thought it may be easier for people if I opened a web shop.
The decision was the easy part, I'm not usually thick but I have to say that I found the setting up of this piece of modern day technology not that easy and if it hadn't been for Iain from Flags of War I would most probably sill be sitting there trying to work out how everything was supposed to come together.
The site still needs a little bit of tweaking but the cart and everything else appears to be working, so please have a look and let me know what you think and as usual I'm open to suggestions.
The blog will remain in order to discuss in more detail what's happening and to listen to comments and ideas for the future.
Speaking of which I know Richard was running slightly behind his sculpting schedule but I'm hoping he will have started on my next set by now and you will receive the updates as they come to me.

The shop can be found at www.cranntaraminiatures.co.uk
and this will appear in the links on the blog.
Thanks again.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

For those people who have been in touch regarding future figures etc may I thank you.
Having given a lot of thought and for a change a little bit of business sense then in terms of future releases after the next set of sculpts I will definately be asking Richard to sculpt the Government foot.

There's a couple of reasons behind this, first the economical one in that hopefully I will sell more of these figures and those funds will contribute towards the horse to be sculpted later.

Second I am not aware of anyone who does the Government foot in campaign dress and to that end I think these figures will be a great addition and provide a slightly different view to the battlefield.

Whilst it is unfair to try and pin Richard down to set time scales I am hopeful the Government foot may just squeeze in by the end of the year.

This will leave 2013 for the horse, artillery crews, Personalties etc.

I have painted a handful of the figures in Jackets, that's i between trying the patience of Iain from Flags of War who is helping me set up a web shop.

The pics below show those figures together with a very humble start to the gathering.

I have also (due to demand) asked Richard to sculpt a couple of Highlanders firing for release in the next set.
So thanks again to all those who have supported this little project.

Sunday, 22 July 2012

I have just finished e.mailing Richard as to my thoughts for the next set of sculpts, as previously mentioned it will be Highland command, Lowlanders and Royal Ecosse.

Butw where to go after that? My initial thoughts was to press on and do the Jacobite Cavalry, Baggots, Fitzjames, Lowland and Lifeguard and if so what pose at rest or full of action? but I am also tempted to make a start on the Government troops.

I have decided to get the Government troops in campaign dress - no turnbacks. That way I'm not competing with Frank at Minden and it complements his range. Also the question is what pose? My thoughts were to do a firing line and an advancing figure?

So what are your thoughts on the subject?, Can I thank those individuals who have been in correspondence with me and provided more info or links. In particular thanks to Ian, (hope you've got your figures).

As a result of his e.mail when i do get Baggots Hussars sculpted I'm going to see about seperate heads, one with the more common mini fur cap but the other with the tartar head gear.

Anyway which way to go Jacobite Cavalry or Government Infantry and what pose.

Saturday, 14 July 2012

Just a short post to say thank you to all those people who have placed orders or bought figures from Stuart at Colonel Bill.
The response has been higher than I expected for such limited advertising to the point where I had to place a reorder with Griffin Moulds for additional figures.

I have sent figures out for review in a couple of Magazines so lets see what they say, when and if the reviews appear.
All feedback I'm pleased to say so far has been very positive and there have been some suggestions for future releases which will be given carefull thought. Its still very early days but I am more than pleased with the response so far so once again
THANKYOU

Sunday, 1 July 2012

For those that have been following the progress of CrannTara Minaitures on my Scotia Albion Blog I thought the time was now right to dedicate Crann Tara with its own blog.
First and foremost see the pics below of the 6 new Highlanders I have received back from Griffin Moulds, they have been undercoated and inkwashed to help bring out the detail until I get some painted.

I hope you agree Richard has done a splendid job and I cant wait to get them painted.
The other great news is that some people have been asking if I was going to make the figures available other than through mail order, I am pleased to say that starting with the Battle Group South shoe next weekend Stuart Armstrong of Colonel Bills will be taking the full range of figures to shows.
You can find the shows he's attending by visiting http://www.colonelbills.com/
I've known Stuart for a long time and I'm pleased he was keen to take the figures on. Mail order will still be processed through the blog.

THE FUTURE;-
I have booked Richards time for August so he will be sculpting the Highland Command, Lowlanders and the Royal Ecosse in short coats and bonnets. Once these are available I will be looking at starting a web shop to make purchases a little easier!

Heres a couple more pics of my painted Highlanders and Crann Tara itself

So exciting times as I make progress far quicker than I expected. Does mean I will have to sell a lot of painted figures over the coming weeks to fund the sculpting but its worth it!